The Simpsons has topped the list as the most-streamed Disney+ show of 2021, beating out brand new shows and exclusives. In a year where Disney’s previous streaming hit The Mandalorian took a year off, the platform had no shortage of new content, with Marvel producing several brand new MCU live-action series, including WandaVision, Falcon & the Winter Soldier, Loki, and Hawkeye. Despite the huge hype surrounding the superhero shows and social media buzz and cultural zeitgeist surrounding them all equally, none of the Marvel media was able to out-stream America’s favorite animated family.
The Simpsons, which has been running since 1989, is currently on season 33, with all the previous seasons (700+ episodes) dropping onto Disney+ in 2020 following the company’s acquisition of Fox. With special shorts cross-promoting Disney and The Simpsons including The Good, The Bart and The Loki, the decades-old animated sitcom has become one of the biggest draws for newcomers to the streaming service. Following the famous family of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and their surrounding Springfield residents, the long-running cartoon’s popularity never seems to wane.
Now, according to data gathered by What’s On Disney Plus, The Simpsons was the most popular show in 2021 on the platform, finishing above pre-school shows Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Bluey, as well as Loki and The Mandalorian. With the newest season of the animated comedy dropping exclusively on the platform for some international audiences in Canada and Australia, the show has dominated viewing figures online.
Disney+ has quickly become a key figure in the streaming wars, with some huge titles and properties exclusive to the house of mouse dropping over the last year. Recent debuts such as Star Wars’ The Book of Boba Fett, as well as the addition of some of the latest big-screen films including The Last Duel and Eternals will only bring more and more new users in months to come. Despite a lacklustre online event in 2021’s Disney Plus Day, the streaming platform remains increasingly popular among audiences at home.
With over 700 episodes available to stream now, and new seasons continuing to be produced, The Simpsons remains one of the most valuable properties in Disney’s arsenal. Other figures remain to be seen as to whether the Disney platform out-streamed competitors such as Netflix and Prime in 2021, but shows like The Simpsons have helped boost the service for yet another year. The current and ongoing season 33 of The Simpsons continues in February.
Source: What’s On Disney Plus